Chapter 1
What were the names of the two madmen DiValerio explains in this chapter?
Künga Zangpo and Sangyé Gyeltsen
(or Madman of Ü and Madman of Tsang)
What is the Practice of Observance? How does it work?
A specific period of spiritual engagement with tantric practice.
Before you can start you must have some spiritual realization (no worldly thoughts)
1) All-Good Practice- conventional monk
2) Secret Practice- practicing in "out of the way" areas
3) Public Practice- doing crazy things in public
Practice that is Victorious in All Respects- enjoying the fruits of labor and training
T/F: Everyone viewed the madmen positively.
F
How did Madman of Ü and Zangpo differ?
Ü had no formal education. Used miracles to prove his worth.
Tsang had an education and debated with monks (geshes) --> he was kind of feisty and was not afraid to argue back with other traditional scholars.nm
What is a yogin? A lama? Siddha?
Yogin- Someone involved in the practice of meditation (yoga in Sanskrit)
Lama- A teacher that instructs in meditation. Usually had to have achieved an "advanced spiritual state" (3)
Siddha- an individual that has reached siddhis aka supernatural qualities or powers via enlightenment
What are DiValerio's opinions on the biographies written about these madmen?
He thinks they can be problematic because they create "goose bumps of faith"
Who was the Heruka?
The Deity that Madman of Ü and Tsang impersonated. Differentiated them from other yogins. They literally tried to become Heruka, acting, dressing and speaking in ways they thought emulated the deity.
(People thought they were demons due to the way they dressed)
How did the amount of patrons or disciples someone had impact how they were perceived for their spiritual accomplishments?
How does this compare to the Majdub of the Islamic World?
More disciples and patrons = better and stronger belief in their holiness.
What was the Geluk school like?
Respected monastic views over advanced tantric practices (still believed in them though), more traditional. Morality was emphasized (through enlightenment?)
What's yogic warmth? Or what does it mean to "achieve heat"
"Advanced realization of emptiness" (42)
Meditation to achieve supreme siddhi or supernatural power of the Mahamudra (helps with achieving enlightenment). Helps you give up your physical body and decrease attachment to fear.
How did the families of these madmen feel when their sons tried to dedicate their life to Buddhism?
They were not happy!! Tried to stop them. Why could this be?
Was there a specific order the Practice was followed in?
Nope. Different biographies interpreted it differently. Again, shows that a lot of what we know is interpretational and subject to change.
What happens to a saint in their lifetime vs maybe in death (as in, how are they interpreted?)
During their lifetime, saints are scrutinized and "incomplete"
In death, they may experience more respect- we see how so many people surround the madmen when they are close to their deaths. Could be similar to the ideas behind martyrdom.
What school did the madmen follow?
Kagyu school and tradition
What is Tantra
Means woven together in Sanskrit. A form of buddhism. Hard to explain but it brings up the potential of gaining enlightenment in this lifetime. Different ways to yield the same result (ie: sexual intercourse)
How were these madmen able to travel and fund their lifestyle of travel and worship?
Through Patrons. What type of patrons?
What did the madmen think of nontantric practices? Of monasticism?
They respected it but they were fundamentalists.
Were the madmen aware of their fame?
Yes, Tsang tried to spread his fame but he advised his disciples not to be in the pursuit of fame.
Both madmen helped create their own biographies.
What could be the implications of this?
What are the two different schools or sects of buddhism?
Gelukpa- more traditional, valued monastic beliefs over tantric. Scholarly efforts were emphasized
Kagyü- tantric over monastic beliefs. Meditation was emphasized and believed to be highly significant
What are Monastic rules or vows?
Structured framework for a life dedicated to spiritual growth and service, often within a monastic community. Vows taken as a monk.
Before his death, what did Madman of Tsang guide his disciples to do?
To practice deep ascenticism- a lifestyle characterized by voluntary self-denial and abstinence from worldly pleasures, aiming to achieve a higher state of spiritual awareness.
What does the author think of these madmen? Does he believe their madness is intentional?
DiValerio argues that the madmen were taking old tantric scriptures (hevajra and cakrasamvara) very literally (fundamentalist reading). Whereas contemporary Tibetans to understood these scriptures figuratively within the popular monastic culture of the period. Unlike many peoples beliefs, he does not think they acted strangely due to enlightenment.
Were the madmen imitating the famous siddhas?
No, they deliberately copied their behaviors and appearances. Maybe to be recognized and gain attention and respect.
So are they actually mad?
They omit information to make their madmen look better or prevent them from looking less powerful.
Ie: in the Madmen of Ü’s biography, it does not mention the Madman of Tsang.
What is a mahāsiddha?
Famous Buddhist saints known for unusual behavior similar to the madmen we read about.